| Posting Date: | 18/02/2026 | |
| Deadline for Applications: | 25/02/2026 (midnight The Hague time) | |
| Organizational Unit: | Office of Public Counsel for the Defense, Registry | |
| Duty Station: | The Hague - NL | |
| Type of Appointment: | Short Term Appointment | |
| Minimum Net Annual Salary: | €72,173.00 | |
| Contract Duration: | Until 30/09/2026 |
Special Notice:
A Short-Term Appointment is used to recruit staff to meet short-term needs. The duration of this assignment is provided above. The maximum duration of a short-term appointment including extensions shall not exceed 12 months.
A Short-Term Appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal and shall not be converted to any other type of appointment.
Due to the short-term nature of the assignment, the ICC reserves the right to make an appointment at one grade lower than that stated in the vacancy with a modified job description.
A current ICC staff member who is holding a fixed-term appointment may apply for any short-term position. Where a current ICC staff member is selected to a short-term position, he or she will be temporarily assigned to the position in line with section 4.10 of ICC/AI/2016/001. GS-level posts are subject to local recruitment only.
The terms and conditions of service for staff members appointed under a short-term appointment are governed by ICC/AI/2016/001.
Organizational Context
The Office of Public Counsel for Defence provides legal support and assistance to legal teams representing accused persons and suspects, including legal research and advice and appearing before a Chamber in respect of specific issues. The Office may also be appointed by the Chamber to represent the interests of the defence during the preliminary stages, or to act as duty counsel for a suspect. The Office is independent and falls within the remit of the Registry solely for administrative purposes.
Duties & Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Counsel and under the overall guidance of the Principal Counsel, the Associate Legal Officer will provide substantive legal assistance, including:
- Conducts legal research on a diverse range of issues in international and domestic criminal and human rights law; selects relevant material, and analyzes information for Defence teams appearing before the ICC.
- Assists Legal Officers/Counsels in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, and provides legal advice and support.
- Drafts training and practice manuals and legal digests.
- Performs other tasks as instructed by the Principal Counsel or other senior staff of the OPCD.
Essential Qualifications
Education:
Advanced university degree in law, from a recognized university, preferably specialising in criminal law, international law or human rights law, is required. A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience is accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of two years (four years with a first level university degree) of relevant work experience in litigation (including pre-trial preparation and litigation), preferably as a prosecutor, investigating magistrate, criminal defence lawyer, or the equivalent is required.
- Practical experience working in international litigation, preferably with a defence team, would be desirable;
- Demonstrated experience in preparing or conducting complex legal cases, preferably with members from different criminal justice systems.
Knowledge, skills and abilities:
- Excellent research and drafting skills;
- Ability to display initiative, to work under strict deadlines, and to work with minimal supervision, if necessary;
- Strong analytical and computer skills;
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural environment;
- Absolute discretion necessary.
Knowledge of Languages:
Proficiency in one of the working languages of the Court, English or French, is required. Working knowledge of the other is essential. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) would be considered an asset.
ICC Leadership Competencies
Purpose
Collaboration
People
Results
ICC Core Competencies
Dedication to the mission and values
Professionalism
Teamwork
Learning and developing
Handling uncertain situations
Interaction
Realising objectives
Learn more about ICC leadership and core competencies.
Candidates appointed to posts at a P-5 grade or in the Director category are subject to a maximum aggregate length of service of seven years. This is pursuant to a decision of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP Resolution ICC-ASP/23/Res.2 - ICC-ASP-23-Res.2-ENG) to implement a tenure policy at the Court as of 1 January 2025.
- The selected candidate will be subject to a Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) process in accordance with ICC policy. The PSC process will include but will not be limited to, verification of the information provided in the personal history form and a criminal record check.
- Applicants may check the status of vacancies on ICC E-Recruitment web-site.
- Post to be filled by a national of a State Party to the ICC Statute, or of a State which has signed and is engaged in the ratification process or which is engaged in the accession process. This is pursuant to a decision of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP Resolution ICC-ASP/23/Res.3 - ICC-ASP-23-Res.3-ENG) to introduce a moratorium on the recruitment by the ICC of staff of non-States Parties’ nationality.
- In accordance with the Rome Statute, the ICC aims to achieve fair representation of women and men for all positions, representation of the principal legal systems of the world for legal positions, and equitable geographical representation for positions in the professional category.
- Applications from female candidates are particularly encouraged.
- The International Criminal Court applies the Inter-Organization Mobility Accord and can support secondment of staff from organizations of the United Nations Common System.